In a few weeks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria will once again take the stage at the United Nations General Assembly. His first address was a stirring reminder of the spirit of the post World War II Marshall Plan, where he implored the global community to prioritize African development as a shared interest rather than a distant ideal. He cast Nigeria, and by extension Africa, as the new battleground for global progress. The Marshall Plan was a playbook for rebuilding a war-torn continent. President Tinubu flipped the script — arguing that Africa is the new frontier — the place where the next chapter of human development will be written.
As we stand on the brink of President Tinubu’s second address, the echoes of his first address are as urgent as ever today. Nigeria is not merely asking for a nostalgic replay of 1950s economic policies and partnerships that worked in rebuilding a war-torn Europe, but for a renewed commitment to collaboration. We are saying, “Look, it worked there, let’s adapt it here.” Africa is ready for its Marshall Plan moment, but it’s a 21st-century version that is built on smart partnerships, leveraging homegrown solutions to endemic challenges — not just cash infusions.
As the CEO of NASENI, Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, I stand at the crossroads of helping to implement President Tinubu’s bold but achievable vision of a rapid and sustainable industrial revolution. For too long, Nigeria’s economy has limped along, stunted by a series of misaligned policies and short-term fixes that only masked deeper issues. As Mr. President stated in his speech to protesters earlier this month, just over a year ago, shortly before I assumed office, his administration reached a pivotal moment—a realization that band-aid solutions were no longer enough. It was time for a seismic shift, a bold reimagining of Nigeria’s approach to our long-standing challenges.
To truly understand the gravity of this moment, let’s consider the spirit of the original Marshall Plan, which was not just about providing aid. Instead, it was a comprehensive strategy for reinvention. It blended public and private efforts to rejuvenate the economies of multiple countries, rebuild their infrastructure, and spark industrial growth. Its success lay not only in its implementation but in the collaborative spirit it fostered.
Today, Nigeria stands on the brink of its own industrial renaissance, with NASENI at the forefront of several of the key initiatives. Over the past year, we have moved beyond envisioning a future of industrial growth to actively building it. Our portfolio now includes 35 market-ready innovations—from affordable solar lamps that can power our streets to cutting-edge agricultural technologies that can help make putting food on the table of Nigerian families easier. These are not simply products; they are answers to the urgent challenges of energy access and food security.
Consider our tractor refurbishment initiative. With more than 36.9 million hectares, but less than 7000 tractors in the country, this program goes beyond upgrading agricultural machinery — it is a holistic approach to improving mechanized farming. By providing more of the 38 million smallholder farmers in Nigeria with access to modernized farming equipment, we are not just boosting their agricultural productivity by making them more efficient, we are also reducing poverty, and fostering economic growth.
Yet, our work extends far beyond agriculture. People often think of industrialization in sweeping and monolithic terms. But the truth is that industrialization is a series of small interconnected decisions. For example, NASENI’s electric vehicle initiative — which aims to convert millions of Nigerian vehicles from petrol and diesel to cleaner forms of electric vehicles and CNG-powered vehicles — is a prime example of this. It is not just about promoting cleaner air; it is about rewriting Nigeria’s energy narrative. Our lithium-ion battery factory is not simply a building; it’s the center point of a wider transformation. Our reverse engineering center, capable of transforming 15 petrol and diesel cars into CNG vehicles every two hours, is more than a typical workshop; it is the link between our goals and their achievement. Still in its early stages, our electric-powered vehicle is a powerful symbol of what is possible. It is more than just a car; it represents Nigeria’s potential to lead the charge in sustainable transportation and technological innovation. The trick, as we see it at NASENI, is not to compete, but to complement. By partnering with the private sector, we are engineering a new economic ecosystem in Nigeria.
And what about the human capital development aspect of all this? We often think of smokey factories, large steel cables, and assembly lines when they think of industrialization. But the truth is, industrialization is as much about the people as it is about the products. At NASENI, through our Innovation Hub and HatchBox, we are cultivating new minds to nurture Nigerian innovators by fostering a culture of inquiry, a spirit of invention. It’s a return to the ethos of the original Marshall Plan, where rebuilding Europe wasn’t just about steel and concrete, but about intellectual capital.
Our efforts in human capital development, and our work to push the boundaries of Nigerian technological and scientific innovation, are poised to make Nigeria as a global innovation powerhouse. This strategic positioning underscores how NASENI is uniquely positioned to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
We are laying the groundwork for a robust industrial base that supports long-term growth and innovation (SDG 9). Our focus on local production and job creation contributes to economic development and employment (SDG 10). Our advancements in renewable energy technologies are integral to providing sustainable and affordable energy solutions (SDG 7). Through technology transfer and capacity-building efforts, we are bridging the technological divide and fostering inclusivity (SDG 10). Our commitment to sustainable practices is crucial in mitigating climate change and promoting environmental stewardship (SDG 13).
As we anticipate President Tinubu’s upcoming address at the UN General Assembly, the spirit of his proposed Marshall Plan for Africa has emerged as more than a visionary proposal; it is a blueprint that we are diligently following in Nigeria. It is not just about pouring resources into a vacuum but about forging partnerships that drive systemic and enduring change. In the past year alone, NASENI has secured $3.25 billion in investments and launched pivotal projects — including the development of Made-In-Nigeria laptops and mobile devices to reduce our domestic dependence on foreign technology. With this, Nigeria is gradually shifting from a state of reliance to a position of influence.
As a millennial, I have always believed in not being a passive observer, but an active participant. The same applies to Africa. It is time to shift our focus from merely discussing Africa’s untapped potential to actively working towards realizing actual impact. At NASENI, we are not passive observers of this transformation but are actively steering its course.
As we chart this course, we are not only crafting a new economic landscape; we are reshaping our collective destinies by transforming President Tinubu’s envisioned Marshall Plan for Africa from a distant vision into a practical roadmap for a thriving, dynamic continent.
And no, this isn’t just about science and technology — it’s about rewriting all the rules.
- Khalil Suleiman Halilu is the Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) –
